Hip-adjuster.



E. B. N EPPELER.

HIP ADJUSTER. APPLIUATION rump 00131, 1 902.

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NITED STATES Patented April 12 1904:.

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HIP-ADJUSTER.

- o SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 757,140, datedApril 12, 1904.

Application filed October 31, 1902. Serial No. 129,561. (No model.)

To all 11/77/0711, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD B. NEFFELER, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Aberdeen, in'the county of Brown and State of SouthDakota, have invented an Improvementin Hip-Adjusters, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to hip-adjusters; and the objects of the same areto provide an appliance which may be attached to the human body andproperly adjusted to replace dislocated hips or for holding the head ofthe femur in place and which will permit a free movement of thedefective limb or limbs. The devices or appliances heretofore in use forthis character of dislocations have generally consisted of a splintextending down the limb and preventing the free use of the limbmuscles.I contemplate the use of an artificial hip-socket, in which the upperend of the femur is firmly supported and held in place withoutinterfering with the free articulation of the joint. I attain theseobjects by means of the construction illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is a view illustrating the manner ofsecuring my appliance in place upon a patient and showing the back orrear portion of the appliance. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of myappliance detached from the patient.

The numeral 1 designates a metal frame or support, and, as shown in thedrawings, two such frames are used. These frames are padded, as at 2,upon their inner surfaces where they bear against the sides, back, andchest of the patient and at their ends are provided with adjustingstraps or hands 3 4:. The lower members 5 of the frames 1 are alsoprovided with adjusting-bands 6 7. A splint or bar 8 is adjustablysecured to each of the frames 1 by any suitable means. As shown, thesplint is slotted, as at 9, and one wall of the slot is provided withrack-teeth 10. The splint is guided in its adjustments by means of thekeepers 11 12. The keeper 12 is provided with a key 13, carrying apinion or ratchet which engages the teeth 10 in the slot. A setscrew 14may be used for securing the splint in adjusted position.

Pivoted to the lower end of one or both of the splints 8 is a metalhip-socket 15, said. socket being designed to fit the end of the femur.It will be understood, of course, that this socket will vary in contourto conform to the various conditions of the dislocated joint. However,the socket will be provided with an outwardly swell or bulging portion16, having a perforation 17 therein to serve in locating the greatertuberosity of the femur, and a keeper 18 to limit and guide the movementof the splint 8 relatively to the socket. It will also be understoodthat a socket may be used for either the right or left limb or for bothlimbs and will be made to conform to the various conditions of thedislocation. Adjusting-straps 19 are secured to the socket and to apadded metal belt 20. attached to the socket and to the metal belt 20,as shown in the drawings.

I do not wish to have it understood that I am to be restricted to theexact details shown, as I may resort to such changes as fairly fallwithin the scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I desire to secure byLetters Patent and claim is- 1. A hip-adjuster comprising a metalhipsocket, having a splint pivoted thereto, and means for adjusting thesplint, and securing the same to the body of the wearer, substantiallyas described.

2. A hip-socket, having a swelled or bulging portion to fit the end ofthe femur, and means for adjusting and holding the socket in place.

3. A surgical appliance comprising a hipsocket, a belt secured to thesocket, a splint pivoted to the socket, and means for securingThigh-straps 21 are the splint firmly to the body to support and holdthe socket in place.

EDWARD B. NEFFELER.

WVitnesses:

J os. H. BLAGKWOOD, E. P. BUNYEA.

